Excellent semiconductor base for PC assemblyThe middle level, which is capable of solving any problem, not only now, but in the next 2-3 years, is an Intel Core i5-6400 processor. This CPU was introduced last year and still continues to be relevant and provides a very high level of performance. Its capabilities will be further considered in detail in the framework of this review material.
Niche of this silicon product
Процессорная продукция компании «Интел» имеет rigid division into market segments. The entry-level products include Celeron chips and more productive Pentium products. The latter have higher clock speeds and an increased cache volume of level 3. The middle market segment is assigned to i3-based solutions. All these CPUs have exactly the same as entry-level solutions, only 2 compute modules. But in this case, there is support for technology HyperTrading, which allows you to get 2 times more software processing flows. For example, the Intel i3 4170 processor, like any other member of this family, can process the program code in 4 threads at once. In this case, the premium segment is occupied by solutions i5 with 4 cores / 6 threads and i7 already with 4 cores and 8 threads. It is to the last group that the hero of this review belongs. These products provide an unprecedented level of performance and allow you to solve any task not only now, but in the next 2-3 years for sure.
Various delivery options. Their strengths and purpose
There are two options for picking thismicroprocessor product. One of them is the Intel Core i5-6400 OEM processor. Such equipment is minimal and it is aimed at large collectors of personal computers. It includes:
The processor itself.
Brand card with a guarantee and multilingual guide to the use of this microprocessor product.
Sticker for the system unit with the name of the processor family.
О защитной коробке, фирменной системе охлаждения and thermal paste in this case, no speech and can not be. The new owner of this CPU will have to additionally purchase these components. In this design, this chip provides the greatest interest for computer enthusiasts who plan to overclock their PC. This configuration will allow you to purchase an improved cooling system and achieve a stable operation of the system unit after overclocking due to this. The second version of this product is called in the price list as follows: "Intel Core i5-6400 BOX". In addition to everything previously mentioned, it also includes a protective box for transporting the processor, a regular cooling system and, of course, thermal paste.
CPU socket. Its relevance at the moment
This processor is focused on installation insocket LGA1151. This computing platform was developed specifically for the 6th generation of the CPU of the Core architecture and was presented together with its first representatives in 2016. At the moment it is relevant and allows you to collect the most productive personal computers. Also, this processor socket allows you to install more recent chips of the 7th generation. According to the plans of Intel, it will be possible to install into it not yet released chips of the 8th generation. So this computing platform will be relevant for at least another 2 years.
Technological aspects
The hero of this review is produced by the mostadvanced technological process, the tolerance standards of which correspond to 14 nm. Due to this, the products of this family can boast of absolutely tiny size and impeccable energy efficiency today. In terms of the layout of semiconductor elements on a substrate, this technology is no different from the standard tolerance of 22 nm. As before, transistors in this case are produced using the same TriGate three-dimensional layout technology. Therefore, there are no fundamental differences from previous generations in this regard, and the previous generation Intel i3-4170 processor, for example, has a similar three-dimensional organization of its semiconductor elements.
Cache memory organization
Like all the most productiveIntel's semiconductor products, the hero of this review material can boast of having a three-level cache of impressive size. The total size of its first level is 128 Kb, which are divided physically into 4 equal parts of 32 Kb. Each of these parts is aimed at interacting with a strictly defined computational core. It should also be noted that these 32 KB, in turn, are divided into 2 parts of 16 KB each. One of them can store only the instructions of the processor core, and the second - the data. The total size of the second level is 1 MB. Like the first level of fast energy memory, the second level is also divided into 4 parts of 256 KB each, assigned to a specific computing resource. There is no hard division for storing data or instructions. The third level is common to all components of the CPU - its size is 6 MB.
RAM and its controller
Процессор Intel Core i5-6400 оснащен integrated memory controller (that is, this component of the computer system is located on the silicon chip of the central processor). It can operate in dual channel mode and can address up to 64 GB of RAM. Also in the technical specifications featured support for two main types of RAM - DDR3 & DDR4. But the most safe to use in combination with this chip is the last type of RAM. If you use DDR3 as part of such a PC, damage to the RAM controller may occur. Further use of such a PC will not be possible.
Thermal regime of this product
Declared heat pack for this chipis 65 watts. This is a typical value for the entire family of i5 processors of this generation, and it cannot boast of anything unusual in this regard. The maximum allowable temperature for this solution is 71 0C. In normal mode and using a standard cooling system, the temperature of this semiconductor solution does not exceed 55 0C. Well, if you still overclock this CPU, then it is best to abandon the use of a standard cooling system and use its more advanced modification from a third-party manufacturer.
Frequency parameters of the product
This semiconductor product is usedfrequency control technology depending on the degree of heating of the semiconductor solution and the level of complexity of the executed program code, which is called TurboBust. The minimum frequency in this case is 2.7 GHz, and the maximum - 3.3 GHz. The upgrade of the processor architecture also made it possible to increase the speed of the computer system by increasing the frequency of the clock generator. The question of how to overclock an Intel Core i3 or even i5 processor with a blocked multiplier (that is, the letter “K” is not in the designation of such processor products) will be considered in detail in the future.
Architecture
The code name of the architecture, according to whichIntel Core i5-6400 processor, - Skylake. This is the 6th generation of the Kor family chips. At the software level, there is no significant difference between the i3 and i5 CPUs. These CPUs look like four-block computing solutions. But at the hardware level, they differ significantly. Only 2 physical cores have any Intel Core i3 processor. CPUs of this family support NT technology, and it is its support that allows you to convert two cores into 4 logical streams at the program level.
А вот чипы i5 (в том числе и 6400) являются full 4-core solutions. And both at the software and at the logical level. This is what provides a higher level of performance in the latter case. Also, i5 has higher frequencies, increased cache level and TurboBust technology support. All this in sum in most existing software allows even to compete in terms of performance with more expensive products of the i7 family.
Built-in graphics product subsystem
As it should be, Intel Core i5-6400 processorequipped with a built-in video card. It is located on the same semiconductor chip with the computational part. This is HD Graphics from Intel's Model 530. Immediately, it should be said that its computing power is definitely not enough to fully unlock the potential of this CPU. For these purposes, the PC must be equipped with a discrete graphics card. Well, for the organization of an entry-level server based on this chip, its presence is more than enough. Its frequency range is limited to 350 MHz - 950 MHz, and the maximum number of connected output screens - 3.
Overclocking options and percentage increase in speed
Now let's figure out how to overclock the processor.Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 of the last two generations (that is, the 6th and 7th) with a blocked multiplier (there is no “K” in their labeling). To do this, you need to properly complete the PC:
For the motherboard there should be a special version of "BIOS", in which there is an opportunity to increase the frequency of the clock generator.
The power supply in this case must have increased power.
Also, the memory must operate at a frequency of 3200 MHz.
Both the system unit and the processor in this case are equipped with an improved, advanced cooling system.
The algorithm for overclocking in this situation is as follows:
Download alternative firmware on the thematic forum and install it in the "BIOS".
We reduce the frequencies of all PC components, and gradually increase the frequency of the clock generator. After each such increase, check the stability of the computer.
When already a simple increase in frequencynot enough for the stable operation of the computing system, we begin to gradually increase the voltage on the CPU along with the frequency. In this case, the maximum allowable values for voltage and frequency are 1.4-1.425 V and 4.5-4.7 GHz, respectively (40-45% relative to the original frequency).
The price of a semiconductor solution
Available can not be productiveIntel Core i5-6400 processor. The price he really high - 13 000-15 000 rubles. For the same money you can buy a flagship processor solution from AMD - FX-9370. Only here the difference in performance will be significant, and the second CPU in most modern games will not provide an adequate level of performance. Therefore, buying a middling from Intel is more justified in such a situation than the flagship from AMD. Especially since most of the modern software is optimized precisely for the CPU from Intel. They now, in essence, have no equal.
Reviews
Like the hero of this review, Intel Core processori3-4170 has 4 logical processing flows of program code. But, unlike him, in the case of i5-6400 there are 4 real modules on the physical level. He also has increased cache, there is support for TurboBust technology. This allows you to eventually get a higher speed in a PC based on such a processor, and this is indicated by the owners of such system units. The performance level in this case is redundant and will allow even to launch those toys that have not yet come out (but a discrete and very high-performance video card must be installed in the computer).
Also this chip boasts a high degreeenergy efficiency. But he has one drawback: the high cost. But AMD is more to blame for this than Intel, which cannot yet offer a worthy alternative in the mid-level CPU segment.
Outcomes
Отличное сочетание производительности, energy efficiency and affordable price against the background of the rest of the i5 chip family makes the Intel Core i5-6400 processor one of the best offers in this market segment. If you need a productive CPU, which will last more than one year and allow you to solve the most complex tasks for a long time, then the i5-6400 alternative, in essence, does not currently exist.
